Your Votes In Washington

January 25, 2009|By Thomas Voting Reports Inc.

How members of Congress from Hampton Roads voted on major bills for the week ending Jan. 23.

HOUSE VOTES

TIGHTER BAILOUT RULES

For, 260; Against, 166

Members voted, 260-166, to tighten rules for the $700 billion Troubled Assets Relief Program. A yes vote was to pass a bill (HR 384) that, in part, requires TARP spending to avert home foreclosures and pressures banks to allocate some of their TARP funds to new lending.

Wittman (R-Westmoreland) N

Nye (D-Norfolk) Y

Forbes (R-Chesapeake) N

Scott (D-Newport News) Y

$700 BILLION BAILOUT

For, 270; Against, 155

Members voted, 270-155, to block the Obama administration from releasing the remaining half of the $700 billion Troubled Assets Relief Program. The vote was only symbolic because the Senate refused to go along. A yes vote backed the resolution of disapproval (HJ Res 3).

Wittman (R-Westmoreland) Y

Nye (D-Norfolk) Y

Forbes (R-Chesapeake) Y

Scott (D-Newport News) Y

SENATE VOTES

SECRETARY OF STATE CLINTON

For, 94; Against, 2

Senators voted, 94-2, to confirm Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., as the U.S. Secretary of State. Sens. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., and David Vitter, R-La., cast the negative votes. A yes vote was to confirm Clinton as the nation's 67th Secretary of State.

Webb (D) Y

Warner (D) Y

PAY-BIAS SUITS

For, 61; Against, 36

Senators passed, 61-36, a bill giving plaintiffs more standing to file pay-bias claims. A yes vote was to pass S 181, which would allow filings within 180 days of the last offense, thus voiding a Supreme Court rule that suits must be filed within 180 days of the first offense.

Webb (D) Y

Warner (D) Y

GOP PAY-BIAS PLAN

For, 40; Against, 55

Senators defeated, 40-55, a bid by Republicans to narrow the statute of limitations in S 181 (above) for filing pay-discrimination claims. A yes vote was to require filings within 180 days of the time the plaintiff first knew or should have known of the alleged paycheck bias.

Webb (D) N

Warner (D) N

RIGHT-TO-WORK LAWS

For, 66; Against, 31

Senators tabled, 66-31, a bid to add a federal right-to-work law to S 181 (below left). Such laws, in force in 22 states, make it illegal to require union membership or dues payments as a condition of employment. A yes vote was to kill the right-to-work amendment.

Webb (D) Y

Warner (D) Y

KEY VOTES AHEAD

In the week of Jan. 26, the House will take up an $850 billion economic stimulus package, while the Senate will debate an expansion of children's health insurance and vote on Obama administration appointees.